Process for manufacturing selfigniting cigarettes



G. LAKOS Jan. 28, 1958 PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING SELF-IGNITINGCIGARETTES Filed NOV. 22, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l 7. 7 .N Q L 0 W 9 2 GeovBY MIN Sn w

Jan. 28, 1958 G. LAKOS 2,821,238

PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING SELF-IGNITING CIGARETTES Filed Nov. 22, 1955 2Sheets-$heet 2 Z l l g M W 1 n11; W- l 4 v M I Jiiii' T #6 I I l \34 157c 5 IN V EN TOR.

ted rates lame PRBCESS FOR MANUFACTURING SELF- IGNITING CIGARETTES GeorgLakes, Hamburg-Lohbrugge, Germany, assignor to Kurt Korber & Co. K. G.,Hamburg-Bergedorf, Germany Application November 22, 1955, Serial No.548,499

Claims priority, application Germany February 5, 1955 1 Claim. ((11.154-36) This invention relates generally to cigarette manufacturingprocesses and more particularly to a process for manufacturingself-igniting cigarettes.

The application of combustible materials to one end of a cigarette iswell known and numerous processes have been developed for applying thecombustible materials. All of these employ materials which are raised toignition temperatures either by friction or by chemical action.

With both types of ignition materials it has been suggested that thematerial be applied directly to the cut end of the cigarette. Usuallythis was done by means of a roller coated with the ignition material inthe form of a heavy viscous fluid. In accomplishing this the ends of thecigarettes were moved past the coated rollers which were usually rotatedso that the tangential velocity of the roll surface corresponded to thelinear velocity of the cigarette as it moved past the roll, the end ofthe cigarette lightly touching the heavily coated roll on its way pastthe roll. Usually an endless band or belt carried the cigarettes.

In accordance with yet another process the ignition material wasdeposited on a small web which in turn was adhesively applied to the endof the cigarette.

With each of the above processes the ignition material was secured tothe end of the cigarette by adhesion to the ends of the strands oftobacco, in the first case by direct application to the ends of thestrands and in the second case by adhesion of the web section to theends of the strands. Both of these approaches to the problem provedunsatisfactory because of the delicate nature of the mechanicalconnection which usually failed in normal handling of an open cigarettepackage through loosening of the tobacco strands permitting the ignitionmaterial to fall 05. These processes were also unsatisfactory from theviewpoint of production speed since satisfactory application of theignition material required production line operation at speeds whichwere much lower than the output of modern strand cigarette machines.

The process according to the present invention overcomes the aforesaiddisadvantages through the application of devices and principles whichcorrespond generally to those employed in the manufacture of filter tipcigarettes and which can be applied with facility to any conventionalstrand cigarette machine and operated successfully at normal productionspeed.

The description of the process and two embodiments of apparatus wherebythe process may be practiced which follows relate to the application ofan ignition material and a glow material to the end of a cigarette in away that it can be removed only by destruction of the cigarette tip, theignition being of a type which is ignited by chemical reaction throughcontact with a suitable contact substance provided externally of thecigarette package and available for ignition purposes only by removal ofa cigarette from the package. By this expedient unwanted ignition evenwith rough handling is obviated. The present process, of course, is notlimited to ignition materials depending upon 2 heat generated in achemical reaction for ignition but may be practiced with equal successwith materials depending upon the heat of mechanical friction forignition. This is feasible not only from the process point of view, butalso from the viewpoint of practical usage, the latter in view of thestrong mechanical assembly of the ignition and glow material with theend of the cigarette.

One object of this invention is to provide a process for the manufactureof self-igniting cigarettes which may be mechanized to provide ignitiontip application at cigarette production line speeds.

Another object of this invention is to provide a process for applyingignition materials and/or glow materials to the ends of cigarettes whichmay be mechanized with a novel organization of conventional devicesavailable for example in the manufacture of filter-tip cigarettes.

A further object of this invention is to provide a process for theapplication of combustible materials for self-ignition purposes to theends of cigarettes which results in a mechanically strong product whichretains its self-ignition properties in the presence of rough handling.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from a studyof the following specification when considered in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 schematically illustrates a portion of a strand type ofcigarette machine embodying arrangements for practicing the process ofthis invention,

Fig. 2 is a view of a portion of a cigarette paper band prior towrapping and cutting illustrating the application of ignition and glowmaterials thereto in accordance with the present process,

Fig. 3 illustrates a modified arrangement of the type shown in Fig. 1wherein the process steps are modified while yet producing acorresponding finished product,

Fig. 4 is a view of a portion of a cigarette paper band prior towrapping and cutting showing the appearance and position of the ignitionand glow materials resulting from the modified process, and

Fig. 5 illustrates a finished cigarette showing the position of theignition and glow materials at the end of the cigarette.

Very generally stated the process herein disclosed embodies the steps ofsuperimposing ignition and glow materials at spaced points along theinner 'face of a cigarette paper band so that when the band is wrappedabout a tobacco strand and thereafter glued and cut centrally of saidmaterials and intermediate said materials separate cigarettes areformed, each having a self-igniting tip comprised of concentriccylinders or concentric partial cylinders disposed between the tobaccostrand and the wrapped paper band at the end of the cigarette.

Fig. 1 illustrates one arrangement for practicing a specific processembodied within the generic process outlined above. in this arrangementa strip or band 1 of cigarette paper passes about the end of an endlessband type of conveyor 2 to its top surface and is moved with theconveyor in the direction of the arrow. A second conveyor 3, again ofthe endless band type, feeds a strand of cigarette tobacco across abridge 4 onto the cigarette paper 1 on conveyor 2. The conveyors 2 and 3are synchronized so that their endless bands have the same linearvelocity. The cigarettes are formed by wrapping and gluing thetransverse dimension of the band of cigarette paper about the continuousstrand of cigarette tobacco coming from conveyor 3. Thereafter the paperwrapped tobacco strand is cut into standard cigarette lengths. Since thedevices for wrapping and cutting the tobacco strand form no part of thisinvention, they are not illus trated in the interest of simplicity.

Reel 5 comprises a wound strip coated with ignition material. Theignition material strip 5a is threaded through a guide 6 and over anidler pulley 7 to a gluing station 8, the details of which are not shownbeing conventional. From the gluing station the strip 5a passes through;a cutter 9 which cuts the strips into lengths double that required in asingle cigarette. The cut ignition sectionsSb are then guided betweenguide rollers 11 and 11a (shown only symbolically) to a suction drum-12which is tangent to the cigarette paper strip at point 13. A support 14backs up the cigarette. paper strip 1. Thus each ignitionmaterialsection 5b is positively applied at a precise point to thecigarette paper strip. If desired, an intermittenttype of gear drivesuch as a Geneva gear synchronized with the cigarette paper strip 1 maybe used to drive the suction. drum.12 to provide the necessaryintermittent operation and correct peripheral speed for the suction drumso that the ignition material sections 5b are properly spaced with thelength of two cigarettes between their centerlines and properly securedto the cigarette paper strip.

A second reel 17 is wound of a strip coated with a suitable glowmaterial. The glow material strip 17a is threaded betweenguides 18 andabout an idler pulley 19 to a gluing station 20 from which it passes toa cutter 21. The cut glow material sections 17b are then guided betweensymbolically illustrated guide rollers 22 and 22a to a suction drum 23corresponding to drum 12, and similarly driven, and indexed to apply theglow material sections 17b substantially centrally of the ignitionmaterial sections .Sb. Cigarette paper strip 1 passesbetween pressurerolls 24 which apply firm pressure to the laminated sections and paperstrip to assume positive adhesive bonding.

Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale shows the glow material section 17b appliedto the ignition material section 5b in turn applied to the papercigarette strip 1. The equal longitudinal dimensions between lines A andC, and B and C indicate the length of a standard cigarette. It will benoted that the ignition material and the glow material superimposedsections are cut into two substantially equal. axial parts, half beingon each cigarette. The dimensions of the ignition and glow materials 5band 17b are determined experimentally and will vary depending upon theigniting material which is used. The brand of tobacco which is used willalso have some bearing upon the size of the ignition and glow materialused to obtain self-ignition. I

In the modification of the invention shown in Fig. 3, the strips ofignition and glow material are laminated prior to cutting. 17a-isengaged by a liquid adhesive roller 25 which coats the strip withadhesive. The ignition material strip 5a is approximately aligned withglow material strip 17a by an idler pulley 26 after which both stripspass through a pair of pressure rollers 27 which apply the bondingpressure. At gluing station 28 adhesive is applied to the bottom side ofthe laminated strip, as viewed; From the gluing station the laminatedstrip passes between guide rollers 29 and 29a to a suction drum orroller 30. The laminated strip is cut into sections 31 by means of arotary knife 32 or other corresponding cutting device. These sections 31are held in place by suction pressure on the suction drum and applied tothe cigarette paper strip at point 33 where the path of movement of thesection 31 on the suction roll or drum is substantially tangent to thecigarette paper strip. The circumferential spacing of the sections 31 onthe suction roll may correspond to the length of two cigarettes. Thus ifthe peripheral speed of the suction roll is matched to the linearspeedof the cigarette paper strip, the laminated ignition and glowsections 31 will be properly spacedon the cigarette paper strip 1. Thisrequiresfeeding the laminated strip to the cutter 32' at aspeed'somewhat lower than the peripheral speed of the suction roll sothat the required spacing betweenthe sections 31 is obtained. Anintermittent gear In accomplishing this the glow material strip 4 driveof the type proposed in connection with Fig. 1 may also be employed todrive suction roll Pressure rollers 24 through which the cigarette paperstrip with the sections 31 thereon passes, apply bonding pressure tosecure the assembly.

Each laminated section 31 comprises a short length of ignition stripmaterial 5a and a corresponding length of glow material strip 17a.Unlike the process of Fig. 1 which produced a glow material section 17bwhich was smaller in. length and width than the ignition materialsection 5b, this arrangement results in ignition and glow sections 5band 17b which are of the same length, the glow material section againhowever being of lesser width than the ignition material section 5b.

Although in each case the ignition material section has been appliedto-the cigarette paper strip, it will be appreciated that the glowmaterial may be applied to the cigarette paper strip and the ignitionmaterial appliedto the glow material; In this case the, glow materialsection is preferably made larger than the ignition material section. Asa rule, therefore, the larger section, whether of ignition or glowmaterial is secured to the cigarette paper and the smaller sectionsecured to the. larger section.

In Fig. 3- asinFig. 1' the length of the sections 31 is double thatrequired fora single cigarette. Thiswill be seen by reference to Fig.4.which shows an enlarged view of the cigarette paper strip 1 with thesections.31 applied thereto. Lines A, B and C again indicate the placeswhere the striplzis out after rollingand gluing about the tobaccostrand. The distance between lines A. and C represents the length of.one cigarette and'the distance between lines B and C representsatcigar'ette of equal length. Itwill be noted that lines A'and B divideeach combustible material section into two equal parts, the centerlinespacing of each section 31'being'the-lengthof two cigarettes.

Fig. 5 shows an assembledcigarettegla manufactured according to theprocesses herein disclosed wherein the partial cylindrical;configuration of the section 31 is apparent. The laminated, section 31aswas the case with the combustible laminate of Fig. 1, being depositedon the inner face of the cigarette paper strip, is wrapped up inside thecigarette paper about the tobacco strand 32. Although the arrangementshown results in a partial concentric cylinder of ignition and glowmaterial, it will be obvious that the widths of both ignition-and glowmaterial sections can -be selected to form complete cylinderswhen thecigarette is wrapped.

In the event the; exposed edges of the ignition and glow materials areinsufiicient to provide igniting action by friction or by' chemicalaction brought about by contact with a suitable contact material, thecigarette paper may be suitably punchedasshown at 34 to provide a holein the paperexposing-the ignition material. These holes are spottedwith-their. centerson, the; cutting lines such as B so that eachcompleted-cigarette will have a semicircular paper cut out. at itsignition end, as shown at 35 in Fig. 5, exposing the ignition material5b, so that it maybe convenientlyj engaged, with the friction or contactsurface provided as previously described.

It will be appreciated that single lengths of combustible materialsections may be applied. and spaced apart the length of one'cigarette'with substantially equal facility.

I claim as my invention:

In a process for manufacturing self-igniting cigarettes, the stepscomprising continuously feeding a strip of cigarette-paper'toa conveyorpathway from the underside of said athway and over one end thereof sothat the lower face of: said strip beneath said pathway is uppermostduring its travel along said" pathway, continuously feeding ahandofignition material and a band of glow material" of a smaller width thansaid ignition band material from separate rolls beneath said'ccnveyorpathway, applyingvadliesive to one s'id'e of each of said bands dur ingtheir continuous feeding movement, guidin'g s'aid bands separatelyinspaced relationtoward the underside of said continuously moving stripof cigarette paper before it passes over the end of said conveyorpathway, cutting said bands into sections of different length, thesections of ignition material being of a greater length than the cutsections of said glow material, applying a section from said ignitionmaterial band with its adhesive side to the continuously moving strip ofcigarette paper at spaced intervals equal to the length of twocigarettes, and applying a cut section of said glow material band aftersaid cut ignition section has traveled the distance of two cigarettescentrally to the area of said ignition material band section, saidignition and glow material sections being applied to the cigarette paperstrip before it passes over the end of said conveyor pathway wherebysaid sections will he uppermost during the travel of said cigarettepaper along said pathway and will be arranged internally of a completedcigarette.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

